Deepcut/Guildford - local knowledge sought

[al-fresco]

Planning a tour of Southern England for next week I noticed that just south of Deepcut there's an 'Old Guildford Rd' which looks like a pleasant enough way to get Guildford but OS186 shows that it runs close to a firing range and the area is dotted with big red 'DANGER' signs. We have a few of those around here too and they're very rarely in use and I've never been delayed by live firing. Does anyone know if the Old Guildford Rd is frequently closed due to firing practise? Is it even a public right of way?

 

[Longshot]

I know the area well but am not 100% sure about this. There is definitely no actual road that joins Mytchett Place Road at the eastern end of Old Guildford Road but there may be a footpath. Those firing ranges are used on a regular basis - there are a lot of public rights of way but I believe they get shut down regularly.

You may be better off staying a bit further north on the Basingstoke Canal towpath before heading south towards Guildford down the back roads through say Pirbright/Fox Corner/Worplesdon.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

What are you touring on? if it is a road bike with road tyres, then the road is simply not suitable anyhow - its not tarmac all the way bcoming sand and mud further the 'south east' you go down it. As an aside, I don't think they can close this road down because it is residential for the tarmac section... go to google maps and go over to the section they have driven (the yellow person on the zoom in/out bars and drop it on the road) and look for your self.

We both used to work that way for the MoD, so I will ask my OH when he gets home (tomorrow morning) and see if he can recall.
(We used to live on part of one of the ranges a little further south the otherside of the A31) but it may not matter if you are on a road bike, the Old Guildford road just won't be suitable.

 

[al-fresco]

Ahhh, thanks for the replies. Bikeroutetoaster was quite happy for me to plot a route down that road/track but it doesn't sound like such a good idea now. I'll explore other options. (Thanks for the tip about the towpath - I'd missed that.)

(I'm using a cyclocross bike and travelling fairly light so moderate off-road sections wouldn't be too much of a problem.)